Lifestyle in Undergraduate Students and Demographically Matched Controls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain

Abstract

Few studies have used a multidimensional approach to describe lifestyle changes among undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic or have included controls. This study aimed to evaluate lifestyle behaviors and mental health of undergraduate students and compare them with an age and sex-matched control group. A cross-sectional web survey using snowball sampling was conducted several months after the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. A sample of 221 students was recruited. The main outcome was the total SMILE-C score. Students showed a better SMILE-C score than controls (79.8 + 8.1 vs. 77.2 + 8.3; p < 0.001), although these differences disappeared after controlling for covariates. While groups did not differ in the screenings of depression and alcohol abuse, students reported lower rates of anxiety (28.5% vs. 37.1%; p = 0.042). A lower number of cohabitants, poorer self-perceived health and positive screening for depression and anxiety, or for depression only were independently associated (p < 0.05) with unhealthier lifestyles in both groups. History of mental illness and financial difficulties were predictors of unhealthier lifestyles for students, whereas totally/moderate changes in substance abuse and stress management (p < 0.05) were predictors for the members of the control group. Several months after the pandemic, undergraduate students and other young adults had similar lifestyles.

Gender Differences in Psychological Stress Factors of Physical Therapy Degree Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…These results converge with those of previous studies that analyzed mental health among university students and, more precisely, health sciences students [ 39 , 40 ]. Previous surveys suggest the potential risk for a less healthy lifestyle in those undergraduate students with a history of mental illness in the previous year or a positive screening for depression and anxiety [ 18 , 41 ]. Therefore, there may be a relationship between the perceived low quality of life (e.g., vitality) and poor mental health reported by female students in our sample.…”

Criterion Validity and Psychometric Properties of a Malay Version of the Short Multidimensional Inventory Lifestyle Evaluation-Confinement (SMILE-C) in a Sample of University Staff with Weight Problems

“…The SMILE-C shows an overall Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.75 and Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure of 0.77 [ 16 ]. This scale was simultaneously developed in three languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese [ 16 , 17 ].…”

Lifestyle Behaviors, Depression, and Anxiety Among Individuals Living in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Findings from our study are in line with reports previously discussed, highlighting the relationship between different lifestyle domains, such as diet, physical activity, social relationships, and sleep quality, and symptoms of common mental health problems, 11 , 26 - 28 which have been further emphasized during the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. 15 , 16 …”

“… 7 , 13 , 14 The relationship between these factors with mental health symptoms and disorders has been further emphasized during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the home-confinement measures introduced around the world leading to lifestyle changes in North Africa, Western Asia, and Europe. 15 , 16 The urgency to suddenly change many aspects of these lifestyle behaviors has led to serious negative impacts on people’s overall mental well-being. In Brazil, a study found a positive association between the presence of psychological symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, and stress) and social isolation variables (e.g., days of isolation, loneliness, and social distancing) adopted for containment of the wide-spreading virus.…”